Tennessee Vols head football coach Derek Dooley joked about his hip being injured with the media Tuesday morning, then that afternoon had surgery to repair it, according to Volquest.com.

Dooley had noticed the injury several weeks ago, but thought it was a muscular issue. Last Friday, he went in for an MRI, and yesterday doctors quickly arranged the surgery to repair a fracture in his left hip.

Surgeons inserted a pin into his left hip. According to Volquest, Dooley's only other option was a full hip replacement.

The Vols coach will not attend Wednesday morning's practice, but Volquest said it is Dooley's intention to be at practice Thursday and that he plans to go to Starkville with the Vols for their game Saturday night at Mississippi State. But he will not be on the sidelines after the surgery. He will coach from the press box.

Dooley told Volquest it would be the first time in the press box for a game for him since he was an NFL assistant. He would be the first Vols head coach in the press box since Johnny Majors was recovering from heart issues in September, 1992.

He declined to tell Volquest which of his assistants would be in charge on the field, saying only that his coaches had a plan.

Here is more from the University of Tennessee:

University of Tennessee head football coach Derek Dooley underwent a successful surgical procedure to repair a fractured right hip injury Tuesday afternoon. The procedure was performed by Dr. Russell Betcher and Dr. Greg Mathien of the Knoxville Orthopedic Clinic at UT Medical Center.

Over the last two months, Dooley experienced increasing pain in the right hip area. The procedure was scheduled Monday following an MRI Friday afternoon that revealed a fracture requiring an immediate need for surgery.

Because of temporary limited mobility caused by recovery from the surgery, Dooley will coach from the coaches' booth in the press box at Davis Wade Stadium on Saturday. He is expected to resume normal coaching duties next week, but that decision will be made in consultation with Dr. Betcher, Dr. Mathien, and the UT sports medicine staff.

The Vols' game at Mississippi State Saturday evening (October 13) will kickoff at 9 p.m. EST and will be televised by ESPN2.